Patents Examined by Michael E Barr
  • Clothes-processing apparatus
    Patent number: 11332869
    Abstract: A clothes-processing apparatus is disclosed. The clothes-processing apparatus may have a cabinet defining an external appearance of the apparatus. The clothes-processing apparatus may also have a tub body provided inside the cabinet to accommodate water. Further, the clothes-processing apparatus may have a tub cover coupled to the tub body. The tub cover may have an opening through which laundry is introduced. The clothes-processing apparatus may have a drum rotatably provided inside the tub to accommodate laundry. The clothes-processing apparatus may also have a plurality of cleaning nozzles provided at the tub to spray the water toward a preset area of the drum. At least some of the plurality of cleaning nozzles may jet water at different spray angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sunku Kwon, Youngho Kim
  • Dishwasher with a sprayer
    Patent number: 11330958
    Abstract: A dish treating appliance for treating dishes according to an automatic cycle of operation can include a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening. A sump is fluidly coupled to the tub. A liquid recirculation circuit fluidly couples the sump to the treating chamber. The liquid recirculation circuit includes a sprayer having an elongated body defining a longitudinal body axis, with an internal fluid passage and a set of spray openings extending through the body to the internal fluid passage. A deflecting assembly has a carrier and a plurality of deflectors coupled to the carrier, with at least some of the deflectors associated with a corresponding spray opening in the set of spray openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Mark S. Feddema
  • Fabric treating appliance comprising a scrubbing tool
    Patent number: 11332876
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior and having a top wall defining an access opening. A cover is provided that is movable relative to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position to selectively close the access opening. A tub is located within the interior and includes and open top aligned with the access opening. A rotatable basket is located within the tub and has a loading opening aligned with the open top and the access opening. A top wall extends between the cabinet and the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Scott E. Carpenter
  • Nozzle and dishwasher including the same
    Patent number: 11324383
    Abstract: A dishwasher including a nozzle capable of widening an injection region of washing water includes a main body, a washing tub provided inside the main body, and a nozzle configured to inject washing water into the inside of the washing tub, wherein the nozzle includes an injection port through which the washing water is injected, a guide portion configured to spirally guide the washing water injected through the injection port, and a leg portion configured to connect the guide portion and the injection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Wook Lee, Eun Seok Kim
  • Manifold for vehicle sensor cleaning
    Patent number: 11318914
    Abstract: A fluid apparatus includes a straight pipe; an inlet fluidly connected to the pipe; a first cylindrical tube, a second cylindrical tube, and a third cylindrical tube each fluidly connected to and elongated from the pipe; a first solenoid valve controlling flow through the first cylindrical tube; a second solenoid valve controlling flow through the second cylindrical tube; a third solenoid valve controlling flow through the third cylindrical tube; a first outlet fluidly connected only to the first solenoid valve; and a second outlet fluidly connected only to the second solenoid valve and the third solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino
  • Drum washing machine
    Patent number: 11319658
    Abstract: A drum washing machine comprises an inner drum rotatable. Both ends of the inner drum are closed and rotatably mounted on a supporting device through rotating shafts, respectively. A side wall of the inner drum is provided with an input port for taking and putting items. A sealing inner cover capable of being opened/closed is mounted at the input port. A water flow passage for feeding water and/or draining water is arranged in at least one of the rotating shafts at both ends of the inner drum. The whole inner drum may be made into a drum without any hole. During the washing process, washing water is held in the inner drum, and the inner drum rotates to wash clothes. The two closed ends of the inner drum are rotatably mounted on the supporting device through the rotating shafts, thus realizing rotation of the inner drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Sheng Xu, Chunfeng Lao, Yanfen Lv, Yimin Li
  • Stain removal accessory
    Patent number: 11313069
    Abstract: A stain removal accessory that cooperates with a stain removal device for treating a stained area is attached to a front head of the stain removal device, namely to a water and/or steam venting face of the stain removal device. The stain removal accessory includes a container like a pad, a cartridge, a sachet, or a capsule provided with a permeable external layer, for containing a stain removing material, and a flap-flip piece including a holder for holding the container, whereby the stain removal accessory is adapted to release the stain removing material on the stained area when cooperating with the stain removal device by facing a flow of water and/or steam generated by the stain removal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Kannan Udayappan Praveen, Yile Liao, Shenghuai Calvin Lin, Chien-Ping Adrian Koh, Lihong Zhao, Yong Jiang
  • Appliance with hand held steam accessory
    Patent number: 11293131
    Abstract: A major appliance such as a laundry washing machine, a dryer, a cooking appliance or a dishwasher includes an internal steam generator fluidly coupled to a hand held steam accessory that is configured to be manually operated to perform a steaming operation external to the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher Hoppe, Daniel Trice
  • Laundry machine
    Patent number: 11293132
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus including a cabinet; a first space provided in the cabinet, in which a first treating part provided to treat laundry is installed; a second space provided in the cabinet, in which a second treating part provided to treat laundry is installed; a drawer movably provided in the second space, in which the second treating part is installed; and a rail unit configured to limit vertical and horizontal movement of the drawer with respect to the second space and to guide the outward movement of the drawer. Therefore, laundry may be treated by using the first and second treating parts and vibration and noise generated in the second treating part may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungryong Kim, Dongwon Kim, Kyeonghwan Kim, Heakyung Yoo, Youngmin Kim
  • System and method for controlling the water fill level within a dishwasher appliance
    Patent number: 11284773
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a sump, a water supply valve for providing a flow of water into the sump, and a circulation pump that circulates water that is collected in the sump to one or more spray arm assemblies. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller regulates the water supply valve to provide the flow of water into the sump and monitors the sump pressure during the fill process. The controller further determines that the circulation pump is primed when the rate of increase of the sump pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold rate and stops further filling of the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Nasib AlHaffar, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Ultrasonic cleaning system and method
    Patent number: 11286849
    Abstract: A cleaning system and method use an ultrasound probe, a coupling mechanism, and a controller to clean equipment of a vehicle system. The ultrasound probe enters into an engine. The ultrasound probe emits ultrasound pulses and the coupling mechanism provides an ultrasound coupling medium between the ultrasound probe and one or more components of the engine. The controller drives the ultrasound probe to deliver the ultrasound pulse through the coupling medium to a surface of the one or more components of the engine. The ultrasound probe delivers the ultrasound pulse to remove deposits from the one or more components of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bernard Patrick Bewlay, Waseem Ibrahim Faidi, Peter William Lorraine, Mohamed Ahmed Ali, Siavash Yazdanfar, Ying Fan, Edward James Nieters, David Mills, Nicole Jessica Tibbetts, Jr.
  • Systems and methods for on-line pigging and spalling of coker furnace outlets
    Patent number: 11286424
    Abstract: Systems and methods for safe on-line pigging decoking of a coker furnace tubes and which also permits on-line spalling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: BECHTEL ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Doerksen, John Ward, Rick Heniford, Scott Alexander, Richard Von Brecht, Jorge Gonzalez
  • Dishwasher with heat pump
    Patent number: 11284774
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher having a heat pump, including a dishwasher body provided with a tub configured with a washing space therein and a sump provided at a bottom of the tub to temporarily accommodate washing water; a heat pump having a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion apparatus, and a condenser provided on an inner bottom surface of the tub to exchange heat with washing water inside the tub; and a controller that controls the heat pump to be driven to increase the temperature of the washing water inside the tub. As a result, the heating time of washing water may be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Changyoon Jung, Sangheon Yoon
  • Laundry treating apparatus
    Patent number: 11286606
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes: a drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis and a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum and configured to rotate with the drum. The lifter includes: a lifter frame installed on the inner circumferential surface and a frame cover that is coupled to the lifter frame and that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface toward the rotation axis. The frame cover includes: a cover upper plate that is spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface and that defines a water flow discharge hole configured to discharge, into the drum, washing water received into the lifter; a cover sidewall that extends from the cover upper plate toward the inner circumferential surface; and an upper plate protrusion that protrudes from the cover upper plate toward the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: HyeonSik Lee, Junyoung Kim, Hong Min Lee
  • Method for operating a dish washing machine and dish washing machine
    Patent number: 11284772
    Abstract: In a method for operating a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, items to be washed arranged in an interior of the dishwasher are washed during a wash program. A quantity of a specific gas in the interior is determined during the wash program, and a hygiene program is started and/or a notification is outputted to a user of the dishwasher relating to a start of the hygiene program as a function of the determined quantity of the specific gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Alfredo Calvimontes, Kai Paintner
  • Dishwasher including water guide with water pipe connector
    Patent number: 11278178
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dishwasher and a manufacturing method thereof. The dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a water guide extending upward from a sump and supplying washing water to an upper nozzle and a top nozzle, and the upper pipe and the top pipe are separately provided to the water guide, so pressure of the washing water applied to the upper pipe and the top pipe can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Wook Hong, Ganghyun Lee, Hyungman Park
  • Sensor cleaning
    Patent number: 11279325
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor lens defining an axis, a first nozzle and a second nozzle positioned a same perpendicular direction from the axis and spaced along a direction parallel to the axis, and an air source fluidly connected to the nozzles. The nozzles are oriented to emit respective airstreams intersecting the axis and directed apart at an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Sykula, Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Steven Marshall, Michael Whitney
  • Washing machine
    Patent number: 11274389
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a top load washing machine having excellent functions while saving water. The washing machine may include a housing having a drain path installed at the bottom, a water collecting tub supported on the housing in the inside of the housing, and a rotating tub rotating on a shaft extending vertically in the inside of the water collecting tub. The rotating tub may include an outlet opening to the lower portion of a body member that can store water independently from the water collecting tub. The water collecting tub may include a first drain hole opening to the inside space of the water collecting tub, and a second drain hole communicating with the outlet. The drain path may include a first path connected to the first drain hole, and a second path connected to the second drain hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Uetsuhara, Takehiero Nakanishi, Minsu Kim, Shigeki Hayashi, Shin Kagami, Tomoyuki Okuno, Toshihiro Kamii
  • Clothes treating device
    Patent number: 11274390
    Abstract: A clothes treating device includes a clothes accommodation part for accommodating clothes or laundry, a water supply pipe for supplying water into the clothes treating device, and a drain pipe for discharging water to the outside of the clothes treating device. A pump assembly generates a flow of water inside the water supply pipe and the drain pipe by using the rotation of a motor. The flow of water is generated only in one of the water supply pipe and the drain pipe depending on the rotating direction of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehyung Kim, Hyungha Kang, Semin Jang, Joosik Jung
  • Dishwasher
    Patent number: 11272825
    Abstract: A dishwasher may include a washing chamber and a wash arm arrangement having a wash arm rotatably arranged in the washing chamber, and a satellite spray device arranged on the wash arm. The dishwasher may include at least one sensor configured to sense a rotational position of the wash arm and a control unit configured to monitor consecutive sensed rotational positions of the wash arm. The control unit may be configured to calculate a rotational speed of the wash arm based on an elapsed time and a rotational distance between two sensed rotational positions, and may be configured to estimate a current rotational position of the wash arm based on an elapsed time since a previously sensed rotational position and the calculated rotational speed. The control unit may adapt the pumping intensity of a pump of the dishwasher based on the estimated current rotational position of the wash arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: Magnus Wahlberg, Finn Svensson, David Persson, Camilla Runnquist, Maciej Zienkiewicz, David Hedberg, John Anello